THE BIRTH OF A WARRIOR
I’ve rode for many lifetimes
Perched high on faithful steed
My sword held fast beside me
In bloodlust need
My heart by violence twisted
Soul’s anger ebbs and flows
The force that drives me onward
Goddess only knows
I once was normal person
Quiet child with peaceful eyes
But innocence lost hath changed me
From sound of anguished cries
They came into my village
And slew all I could love
My family cried for God’s of mercy
To silent ears above
I hid and wept in silence
A coward watching on
And a demon crawled inside me
And claimed a heart now gone
I sang them to their starways
Bid peaceful life farewell
And followed those who’d changed me
To feed Hades’ fiery well
I taught mine self to slaughter
To demon’s own delight
And followed band of warlord’s
Through bloodied day and night
After a summer I caught them
I approached a noisy camp
Victorious swine danced drunkenly
Unknowingly in the damp
I walked through sleeping bodies
To where they danced and sang
And felled them as they laughed and scorned
Let sudden silence hang
And finally it was over
And all but one was gone
The one that slew my good friend
As innocent child looked on
He watched me feared and wide-eyed
And begged I leave him be
But I shook my head and giggled
And let sweet-demon overcome me
His death was one of torture
His screams loud in my ears
And with him died last innocent thread
Abolished all my fears
Transformed into my demon
It made me what I hate
And now it is the cross I bear
Mine own bloodied fate
And though I try to end this
My anger doth remain
I’ll not be what I was before
Ne’er the same
My steed my only companion
No trusted human friend
Could stand my wrath and anger
With such loyal end
So I charge to mindless battle
With fury in my heart
And leave with sword blade bloodied
Mine cruel part
My strength is skin deep only
From demon that fills my soul
And I weep for those I’ve taken
Mine saddened role
But still I am a warrior
With sword and ‘mail and steed
And by actions bound to role I play
Though by death; freed
But it’s death that’s made me what I am
Death holds mine evil way
Destined to remain ‘till battle lost
On cold and empty day
So I ride my fair steed onward
Searching for that unfound
As Godess watch my solemn path
Thine lone, on battle ground
Bardic
January 1998
